When stop motion animation studio Laika released Coraline in 2009, they instantly became both incredibly distinctive and successful. In an age where studios much prefer to simply use CGI, this method of animation has an undeniable charm that seeps its way into all of the films that use it. This is especially true of Kubo And The Two Strings.
Told in the style of a folk tale, Kubo swiftly introduces us to it's sprightly protagonist of the same name. Working as a storyteller to earn money to support him and his mother, Kubo is cautioned to always come home before nightfall or else his evil and powerful grandfather, the Moon King, will find him. Naturally, he ignores this rule and ends up on a quest to claim a magical set of armour that will help him to defeat his grandfather. He is joined by the serious and straight talking Monkey (Charlize Theron) and the more happy-go-lucky Beetle (Matthew McConaughy), a samurai warrior cursed to live in the body of an insect. The voice acting is terrific, with Theron providing some very deadpan delivery and McConaughy countering with a much more lighthearted performance. The chemistry between these two characters is great and they really are fun to watch.
In terms of narrative, this charming animation ticks all the boxes. It's heartfelt and genuine, delving into themes such as family and, surprisingly, death. Kubo is actually quite a serious and 'dark' film at times, but that only serves to make it even more meaningful. It's not all doom and gloom though. There's a definite sense of adventure and some laughs to be had, too. The animation is outstanding, especially for stop motion. The landscapes are as varied as the characters, whose mannerisms and expressions are vivid and realistic. And the character design is just as wonderful. Kubo's evil aunts stand out as especially creepy characters, both in terms of design and voice acting. Rooney Mara's performance evokes memories of Coraline's Other Mother with her honeyed yet haunting tone that echoes eerily and makes the sisters exceedingly good antagonists. 
Kubo also features some gripping and impressive battle sequences which are much more technical and complex than in any other stop motion film we've seen. At one point in their journey the leading trio are pitted against a giant skeleton. This particular scene is impressive not only for the sheer entertainment value, but also for the scale of it. Laika believe that the skeleton puppet is the largest ever made for a stop motion film. And the rest of the movie is no less awe inspiring, with consistently good set pieces and an array of fabulous monsters the heroes must face.
Kubo And The Two Strings is a beautifully animated film with a range of colourful characters and an emotional story. It's yet another triumph for Laika studios and a real work of art.
